How is more convenient to stream media with an application or just having a Smart TV with all connec

[Alisa]

I am just interested to make a survey about streaming media popularity and how people got used to do it (media stick, streaming app, streaming services with a Smart TV, etc.)
Nowadays there are a lot of streaming services with the help of which we can watch movies, shows, listen to music, radio etc. with a Smart TV or just popular media sticks, like Chromecast.
I am the person who has Chromecast, but streams media with an application and PC server (Serviio).
What do you think, how people get adjusted and which way is the most convenient?
Thank you for your answers in advance!

 

[Topken]

KODI or Plex. Never use my Chromecast any more and we use a Fire TV box for Netflix most of the time. Setting up a way to push media out over the network is not that hard to be honest. I basically use the built in media sharing with Windows to do it and use things like KODI as a client on my different devices to access my media. Works quite well since KODI has support for so many different formats and codecs that its insane and it can work on a wide variety of devices from the cheap raspberry pis to a several thousand dollar PC if you want to over do things.

 

[Alisa]

Thank you, good option!

 

[agarwalro]

Most smart tv's send usage data back home. There is no saying how intrusive the privacy violations are until the manufacturer is outed. I'd rather have a dumb tv and streaming device I can control (or at least have the notion of control ).

 

[macddmac]

Apple TV or Nyrius Bluetooth receiver for music depending on which system I'm watching/ listening to.
Have spotify premium- works good from phone or iPad
Cheers, Mac

 

[Lulimet]

If we are talking about streaming services like Netflix and others, the Amazon FTV is my choice.
You can run Kodi on the FTV if you don't mind the lack of HD audio. Otherwise I use a Zotac Zbox with Kodi running in Windows. Inexpensive and works well.

 

[3db]

A Roku3 for streaming in teh bedroom, a Nintendo WII for streaming Netflix on a 32"CRT and Western Digital SMP TV Live Plus for streaming for my HT setup in the basement. I'm with Agarwalro rather own a dumb Tv connected to a streaming device.